H.S. boys lacrosse: Bergen Catholic wins Bergen County tourney

Ryan Warnock, left, celebrating his goal with Gerard Quinn, one of the 16 by the Crusaders in their title-clinching win.

MAHWAH – Bergen Catholic let loose and savored the biggest accomplishment of its season in style, triumphantly screaming in unison when the Bergen County boys lacrosse tournament trophy was presented, smiling as dozens of cameras captured the moment for all time.

In terms of celebrating, this was pretty big for the Crusaders. But they believe bigger ones are to come.

Senior attackman Chris Blewitt scored two goals and added four assists and junior attackman Mike Reilly had two goals and three assists to lead top-seeded Bergen Catholic to a 16-5 victory over No. 2 Northern Highlandson Saturday at Mahwah.

It’s the Crusaders’ third county title and first since 2009.

They extended their perfect season to 14-0 with the win and head into the state tournament as the top seed in Non-Public A with goals of winning their first state championship.

"This is one more step toward what we’re trying to accomplish," Bergen Catholic coach Joe Haemmerle said. "It means a lot to our kids to achieve this goal. We’re a pretty hungry and a pretty determined group of guys. We’ll enjoy this for a day and celebrate it with moms [today] on Mother’s Day. Then we’ll get ready for bigger and better things to come."

Junior attackman Matt Haemmerle scored three times for Bergen Catholic, including one of its two buzzer-beaters, and junior middy Doug Pula had two goals.

The win erases the Crusaders’ bad memories from their 10-6 loss to Don Bosco in the county final last year. Now they’ll try to do the same in the state tournament after losing to the Ironmen, 9-8 in overtime, in the semifinals last year.

"We’ve been working for this for as long as you can remember," Blewitt said. "To be here last year, it was heartbreaking walking off this field after that loss to Bosco. To finally get it this year, it’s indescribable. It’s a great feeling. I don’t even have words for it."

Bergen Catholic didn’t waste time against Northern Highlands, jumping out to a 6-1 lead in the second quarter with six different players scoring.

Northern Highlands (15-2) cut their deficit to 6-3 on a bounce-shot goal from Ian Evans and a no-angle righty shot to the far post from Holden Rosen-Grupp midway through the second quarter.

But with four seconds left in the half, senior defender Kurt Holuba lined up for a shot from about 35-yards away and let it rip. Reilly caught the ball in front of Northern Highlands goalie Landon Feuerstein (12 saves) and back-handed it into the net as the buzzer sounded for a momentum-swinging goal.

Haemmerle did the same at the end of the third quarter, scoring at the buzzer after he spun around a defender in front of the crease and fired a bounce shot into the net.

"Having that goal at the end just before halftime really pushed us and motivated us," Reilly said. "Everyone was really fired up on the sideline and we kept it going from there."